Horizon Leadership Academy 6–8 Reading Recommendations
At Horizon Leadership Academy, we encourage students to read beyond the classroom and discover books that challenge, inspire, and reflect their experiences. Our Grades 6–8 reading recommendations are aligned with the SpringBoard English Language Arts curriculum and include a mix of classic literature, contemporary fiction, diverse voices, and thought-provoking nonfiction. These carefully selected titles complement our academic goals while also nurturing a genuine love for reading. Whether students are looking to explore new perspectives, dive into historical events, or enjoy imaginative storytelling, this list offers something meaningful for every reader.
6th Grade – Top Recommendations
- My Name Is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada
- The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
- I Sing the Body Electric by Ray Bradbury
- Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
- The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake
- Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
- Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
- Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park
- Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
- Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier
- The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez
- A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
- Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
- The Call of the Wild by Jack London
- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
- Wonder by R. J. Palacio
7th Grade – Top Recommendations
- Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- The Odyssey (Graphic Novel) by Gareth Hinds
- Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai
- Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
- Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
- Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
- Small Steps by Peg Kehret
- I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
- Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
- Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
- Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
- Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
- Night by Elie Wiesel
- Chew on This by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson
- Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
8th Grade – Top Recommendations
- Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
- Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Children of the River by Linda Crew
- The Maze Runner by James Dashner
- The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
- What the World Eats by Peter Menzel
- Global Warming Is an Immediate Crisis by Al Gore
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
- The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey
- Daniel's Story by Carol Matas
- Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
📖 Where to Access These Books
Students and families can find these recommended titles through the following:
Where to Access These Books
Students and families can find the recommended titles through these channels:
